4 ms·
"Like it or not, we need the continued existence of others, who may be seen as revolting, barbaric or just alien, to know who we are." What a crock. People bec
by cairo_x 7y ago
"Like it or not, we need the continued existence of others, who may be seen as revolting, barbaric or just alien, to know who we are."
What a crock. People become barbaric when their own personal situation and environment has become barbaric. Drought and poverty are the leading causes for people to become barbaric--not the lack of anything to compare oneself to. And if it's not as extreme as that--that he's implying we need people to compare ourselves to to maintain self worth, there are levels. You can't just say shit like that. It's one thing to watch failed America Idol auditions to makes oneself feel better about oneself, it's another to regard said people as alien or disgusting barbarians. Irony is, the people who judge cultures or personalities in such an extreme way are the worst of us themselves (and if all xenophobes were all to change their ways tomorrow, I wouldn't suddenly lose my ability to identify anti-social behavior, just as other people wouldn't lose the ability to re-embrace it).
- pvg 7y agoPeople become barbaric when their own personal situation and environment has become barbaric. You are very likely misreading the line to say something it isn't saying. It isn't about 'actual' barbarism.
- erobbins 7y agoHis point is that the external threat of barbarians or whatever is what held together civilizations like Rome. They had an external threat to rally together against. Here in the US the period after 9/11 was very similar, or after Pearl Harbor, etc etc.
- devoply 7y agoAmerica invents a boogie man to rally behind. There is no real boogie man. Hell go see Regan's speech where he's talking about ralling against alien threat rather than fighting the Soviet Union.
- crocal 7y agoI don’t think so. Politicians use this trick but that does not mean it is « what held together civilizations ». Intelligent leadership, rule of the law, public wealth and opportunity for growth beat barbarians any time.